Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-23
THE RICHMOND DISPATCH.
twice unmAPPrLY MARRIED.
hrs. Hanson, Formerly mrs. u. a.
HirI. Leaves . rortuuc 60 . SON.


HiII, Leaves Fortune 20 Son.
On Tuesday last Mr.. William Preston
Hill, Of st. Louis, received from the
public administrator OF New York $685.
Geo as his share in the estate OF his
mother, Mrs. Josephine Il. Hanson,
widow OF Louis Hanson. Mrs. Hanson
was well-known in this city, her native
place being ST. Charles, where her
beauty attracted great attention. In
1857 Miss Behrens (the maiden name
OF Mrs. Hanson) was married to Brit
ton A. Hill, and resided in ST, Louis
for five or six years from that time.
The marriage was by no means q
happy one, and after q stormy con-
jugal experience the pair separated,
Mrs. Hill residing in Europe for sew
ersl years, and finally, in 1864, Mr..
Hill fled a petition for a divorce, which
was dismissed in 1866. In 1863 Mrs.
Hill filed petition for divorce, alleging
brutal treatment and villifcation upon
the part Of Britton A. Hill, but this
suit was never brought TO trial, as, du-
ring its tendency, the Supreme Court
rendered decision that Legislative di-
vorces were unconstitutional and void,
and that Hill, who had obtained snch a
divorce from his first wife, was there
fore incapable OF contracting a mar
rage with Miss Behrens, who there
fore could not obtain divorce, as she
never had been his wife. There were
three children, the eldest, William
Preston Hill, being the only survivor,
and these children were legitimatized
by special Legislative enactment.
In 1881 Miss Behrens, or Mrs. Hill,
married Louis Hanson in New York.
This marriage was also an unhappy
one, and separation was agreed upon
in 1885. On the 4th of July, 1885,
while papers of separation were being
drawn up, Mrs. Hanson requested her
husband to take her to Storm King
mountain, in the Catskills. While upon
the mountain Mrs. Hanson alleged
that her husband endeavored TO
shoot her, and then shot himself.
His dead body was found on
the mountain side, and grave sus-
picions were entertained as to his
death. No action was taken in the
matter, and Mrs. Hanson took steamer
for Panama, intending to go to Mica
ragua. Before she reached Panama
she WAS seized with fatal illness and
died at sea. Her effects were forwarded
to San Francisco, and from there to
New York, where the public admins
traitor took charge of her estate and
opened a correspondence with young
Mr.. Hill, who was entitled to half the
estate of Hanson as his mothers heir,
the residue going to the heirs Of Han
son.
Mr.. Britton A. Hill was visited at his
bya Globe Democrat reporter
last night, and confirmed the story.
"Yes," said Mr.. Hill, "my son has
fallen heir to nearly $4,000. l myself
was the first one to suggest his applying
for the money, he not being aware that
he was entitled to it. / am glad that
some one has been benefited.
81 was awakened one night by
strange premonition, which has on sew
eral occasions saved my life. found
the room full Of gas, and the windows
and keyholes stuffed with paper, in or
der to prevent the access of fresh air.
was nearly gone, but managed to open
a window and obtain fresh air. found
Mrs. Hill i'll the next room.
81 left after this, and she went to
Europe, sailing about the Mediterra-
mean, l am told, with King Humbert,
from whom understand she obtained
arge amounts of money. She also
lived for several years in Geneva. She
entered a suit for divorce against me in
1863, but the Supreme Court decided,
In the course of another case, that had
never been properly divorced from my
first wife, at that time known as Mrs.
d. Robert Barclay, and her suit was
therefore dismissed
"Since then l have never seen Mrs.
Hanson, and had no news of her until
[ heard of her death. Her son, Will
lam Preston Hill, is Legitimate, al
hough his mother and l were never
married, the Legislature
having passed an act to legitimatize the
children of such marriages, over l, 200 |
legislative divorces having been grant !
ID. My son, therefore, is his mothers |
egal heir.